Transformer mount



Oct. 6, 1959 E. A. HOFFMAN 2,907,542

' TRANSFORMER MOUNT Filed Oct. 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'IIII W INVENTOR fan men A. HoFFMn/v ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1959 E. A. HOFFMAN TRANSFORMER MOUNT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1953 INVENTOR [on 4,20 A. florrmmv ATTORNEY R WRR c 2,907,542 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 TRANSFORMER MOUNT Edward A. Holfman, Boise, Idaho Application October 16, 1953, Serial No. 386,584

7 Claims. (Cl. 248--221) This invention relates to supporting devices and in particular to a means for supporting transformers.

Transformers are mounted individually, as well as in banks of two or more, and they are usually supported from one or more poles in an elevated position. Many forms of supports have been devised to mount the transformers. Where heavy installations are made or banks of transformers are installed, the mounting means previously used often comprise complex frames consisting of many costly parts and furthermore they often require gaining and weakening of the pole. Some less complex mounting means have been devised, however, these do not adequately and safely support the heavier transformer installations. In some instances the lower ends of transformers lean into the poles after they are assembled.

A further disadvantage of prior mounting devices is that they are not suitable for all sizes of transformers. Utility companies must stock different sizes of mountings for the different transformers. Accordingly, one of the objects of this invention is to provide a mounting means for transformers with which these disadvantages are overcome. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a trans former mount with which there is no necessity for cross arms, transformer hanger brackets and suspension hooks which are required in the conventional mounting methods. Also, in larger installations, to eliminate special platform and bussing construction, together with one or more extr poles.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mount which can fit poles of any size, and also provide a means for mounting any size of transformer from 3 kva. through 100 kva.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide transformer mounting means which are truss-like in construction, and which, instead of weakening the pole, actually reinforce the points of support for the transformer.

An additional object of my invention is to provide mounting means which will prevent transformers or other devices supported thereon from being jarred loose, and suffering serious damage.

It is also an object of my invention to provide transformer mounting means with which a simple adjustment after shrinkage of thepoles is possible.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a sectional plan view showing a pole and transformer mounts constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the transformer mounting, etc. shown in Figure 1 with one of the mountings removed for clarity of showing.

Figure 3 is a partial elevational view of another transformer mounting constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing two transformers mounted on a pole by means of the mounting illustrated in Figure 3. a

Figure 5 is a partial elevational view of yet another form of transformer mounting constructed in accordance with the invention. 6

Figure 6 is a partial elevational view of the "transformer mounting of Figure 5 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of a hanger bar used in mounting a transformer on a mounting means constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a second form of hanger bar used in the invention, and,

Figure 9 is an elevational view of yet a third form of hanger bar used with the invention- Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate similar parts.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a group or bank of three transformers mounted on a single pole, and Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the mounting means used to support the transformers. There is shown an upper through bolt 16 and a four pointed mounting washer 12, and a brace element 14. The brace has an upper flange 16, a leg 20 which extends outwardly of the upper base at an angle thereto, and a lower flange 22which extends substantially parallel to the upper flange 16.

As shown in Figure 2, a second transformer can be supported opposite the transformer 24 by utilizing additional brace members 14. However, obviously, a single transformer could be supported. The lower flange receives a spacer bolt 24. The spacer bolt is threaded, at least in part, and has abutment nuts or collars 26, 28, and 3t) movably mounted thereon. Collar 26, it is seen, is adapted to cooperate with mounting washer 12 and collar 28 cooperates with washer 32. By properly adjusting the collars the lower flange 22 can be properly positioned outwardly with respect to the pole.

A second brace 34 has an upper flange 36, a leg 38 and a lower flange 40. The upper flange 36 receives the spacer bolt 24, whereas lower flange 40 receives through bolt 42. Washer 44 is positioned outwardly of brace 34 on spacer bolt 24 and beyond this there is a horizontal hanger bar 46 illustrated in Figure 7. i

The hanger bar has a slot 48 which receives the spacer bolt 24 and two longitudinal-slots 50 and 52 which re ceive nuts and bolts 54 engageable in the transformer brackets.

In Figures 1 and 2 there are shown installationsof transformers which may be either of 100 or kva. It

is seen that the mounting means is duplicated for connection to the lower bracket 56. The resulting support comprises tension members 14 and 58 and compression members 34 and 60, rigidly fastened to the pole. These members are actually all constructed identically alike. Also, it is seen that the washers, through bolts and spacer bolts are, respectively, identical.

A further point which should be noted is that all these elements can be formed of readily available stock ma-- terials. H

In Figure 3 the invention is shown as applied to trans formers of 3, 5, 10 or 15 kva. tially the same as that previously described, and comprises an upper brace 62, an upper through bolt 64, mounting washer 68, spacer bolt 66, washers 70, 72 and abutment collar. nuts 74. A vertical hanger bar 76 receives spacer bolt 66 and is held thereon by nut '78, At itsupper end the hanger bar is connected to the transformer bracket 80 by suitable nuts and bolts 82. At its lower end the hanger bar is also connected to' the lower bracket 84 by bolt and nut 86. Also, there is provided a lower brace 88 which is connected di- 7 The mounting is essen-- rectly to the hanger bar 76 and lower bracket 84 by nut and bolt 86. A lower through bolt or a stud 90 secures the lower flange 10.0 to the pole. Thus, the support for the lighter weight transformers differs from the support for the 75 and "100 -kva. transformers in that a single hanger bar is connected to the two transformer brackets and the lower support brace 88 is connected directly to the pole with bolt or stud 90. However, there still results a support in which the upper member 62 isin tension and the lower member 88 is in compression, and which also provides a means of maintaining the transformer in a permanently vertical positlon.

Figure 4 shows two transformers mounted as illustrated in Figure 3. The support bar 76 shown in detail in Figure 8 has suitable openings 162, 104 and 106 for cooperating with the transformer brackets and the braces and spacer bolt. In Figures and 6 I show my invention as applied In mounting 25, 37 /2 and 50 kva. transformers, either singularly or in banks. The support for the interme diate weight transformers is substantially the same as that for the heavier transformers. An upper support brace 110 is fastened to the pole by through bolt 112 and spacer bolt 114. Washers 116, 118 and 120 are provided, as are abutment means 122 and 124.

The upper and lower braces 1.10 and 126 provide a support base for supporting the hanger bar 128 similar to the support bases provided in the previously de scribed modifications.

The hanger bar as illustrated in Fig. 9, is a vertical hanger bar and has openings 130 and 132 for receiving the bolt connected to transformer bracket 134 and the spacer bolt, respectively. At its lower end the hanger bar can be provided with a flange 136 adapted to extend parallel to lower brace 126.

As more clearly shown in Figure 6, the lower transformer hanger 138 is also supported by an upper brace 140, and a spacer bolt 142. However, a lower brace is not used.

From the above description it is apparent that I have devised a transformer mounting means comprising a small number of simply constructed parts, yet which pro vide a support having a high degree of strength and safety. The mounting means which I have disclosed acts in the nature of a truss and instead of weakening the pole, in fact strengthens it at the point of attachment of the transformers.

Furthermore, my mounting means can be easily adjusted to the poles no matter what their diameter when originally mounted and can easily be adjusted after the shrinkage, which often occurs with green poles. Adustment is accomplished simply by tightening the nuts on the through bolts and spacer bolts.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that variations in details of form may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A transformer mounting comprising a through bolt adapted to pass through'a pole, a brace member having an upper flange for receiving said bolt and adapted to be secured to a pole thereby, said brace member having a lower flange, a spacer bolt connected to said lower flange-and connectible to said pole, abutment means on said spacer bolt for abutting against said pole and said lower flange to position said flange in fixed relationship outwardly of said pole, a hanger bar connected to said spacer bolt, and means for supporting a transformer in part at least on said hanger bar, a lower brace member connected to said hanger bar and connectible to said pole in supporting relationship whereby the mounting acts in the nature of a truss.

2. A transformer mounting comprising an Upp through a pole, said spacer bolt having abutment means cooperating with said lower flange to maintain the position thereof when in place on a pole, means for connecting a transformer to said lower flange, a second brace member secured to said pole, and means for connecting said braces whereby the mounting acts in the nature of a truss.

3. A transformer mounting comprising an upper through bolt adapted to pass through a pole, a brace having an upper flange receiving said bolt and adapted to be secured to a pole thereby, said brace having a lower flange positioned outwardly of said upper flange when said brace is secured to the pole, a spacer bolt connected to said lower flange, and connectable to said pole and having means for maintaining said lower flange outwardly of said pole, a lower brace connected to said spacer bolt and connectable to said pole, a third brace connected to said lower brace and having a flange extending substantially parallel to the lower, flange of the first mentioned brace, and a fourth brace connected to said third brace and connectable to said pole whereby said braces act in the nature of a truss, and means for supporting a transformer on said braces.

4. Transformer mounting means comprising vertically spaced brace elements having upper and lower flanges, means for connecting a flange of each of said brace elements to a pole, and means for connecting a second flange of eachof said brace elements to a transformer in spaced relationship with respect to a pole connected to said brace elements, the latter means also connecting the second flanges of said brace elements to each other whereby the mounting means acts in the nature of a truss.

5. A transformer mounting comprising an upper through bolt adapted to pass through a pole, a brace member having an upper flange receiving said bolt and adapted to be secured to a pole thereby, said brace member having a lower flange positioned outwardly of said upper flange when said brace member is secured to the pole, a spacer bolt connected to said lower flange, and connectable to said pole and having means for maintaining said lower flange outwardly of said pole, a lower brace connected to said spacer bolt and connectable to said pole, a third brace connected to said lower brace and having a flange extending substantially parallel to the lower flange of the first mentioned brace, and a spacer bolt connected to the flange of said third brace and connectable to said pole and having abutment means to position said last named flange outwardly of said pole whereby said mounting acts in the nature of a truss.

6. A transformer mounting comprising a through bolt adapted to'pass through a pole, a brace member having an upper flange for receiving said bolt and adapted to be secured to a pole thereby, said brace member having a lower flange, a spacer bolt connected to said lower flange and connectible to said pole, abutment means on said spacer bolt for abutting against said pole and said lower flange to position said flange in fixed relationship outwardly of said pole, a hanger bar connected to said spacer bolt, means. for supporting a transformer in part at least on said hanger bar, a lower brace member connected to said hanger bar and to said pole in supporting relationship whereby the mounting acts in the nature of a truss, said lower brace member being connected to said hanger bar at a point below said spacer bolt.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lower brace member comprises a flange connected to said hanger bar and a portion extending outwardly of said hanger bar,

1,682,613 Greenlaw Aug. 28, 1928 6 Crosby Oct. 18, 1932 Scacchetti Mar. 4, 1941 Callander Nov. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Apr. 11, 1930 

